Over the past ten years, Producer & Roaster Forum has organised pioneering industry events in some of the most prominent producing countries in Central & South America. On 27 & 28 March 2025, PRF will host its tenth edition at the Copantl Hotel & Convention Centre in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
This landmark event will be the biggest and most engaging one to date. Coffee professionals from all over the world will have the opportunity to connect, learn, and build lasting relationships with producers, roasters, and more.
In addition to a specially tailored programme of lectures, panels, workshops, and cuppings, PRF Honduras will host the fourth Global Roasting Contest, the sixth Cold Brew Coffee Championship, a Brewing Championship, and a Cupping Championship, the third Global Coffee Awards, and the second PRF Seed scholarship initiative.
As with every PRF event, international industry leaders are handpicked to present on some of the most pressing and important topics in the global coffee sector. If you would like to speak at PRF Honduras on a subject that you are passionate and knowledgeable about, speaker applications are now open.
Read on to learn more about PRF, speaker requirements and responsibilities, and how you can apply.
Learn more about PRF here.
PRF to celebrate its tenth anniversary in Honduras
For nearly a decade, PRF has hosted some of the most groundbreaking events in the coffee sector. Every year, it takes place in a renowned producing country in Latin America. Each edition brings together leading international professionals and experts – including producers and roasters – to exchange ideas, drive innovation, address industry-wide challenges, and propose solutions to them.
Henry Wilson is the founder of PRF. “As part of our tenth anniversary, we want to organise an event that adds even more value to the coffee sector,” he says. “Honduras will be our biggest and most engaging edition so far, building on the success we have achieved over the last ten years.”
Part of PRF’s focus is cultivating truly global events that include actors from across the supply chain. Over 4,000 people will attend the forum in Honduras, including more than 480 coffee buyers, such as Purity Coffee, Vero Coffee House, Espresso Americano, Woods Roastery, Saltwinds Coffee, and Silverskin Coffee Roasters. Over 2,000 small producers will also be in attendance, offering roasters an opportunity to connect with and learn from farmers firsthand.
In addition to the two-day forums held in major cities in Central and South America, the first-ever PRF: Farm Summit recently took place entirely on a coffee farm. A total of 1,387 attendees – including 404 farmers and 96 roasters – met at Hacienda Cafetera La Pradera to engage with the event, which focused specifically on regenerative and organic farming.
Farm Summit also hosted the fifth Cold Brew Coffee Championship and the inaugural Cacao Masters and Soil of Excellence competitions.
Why Honduras?
PRF Honduras is projected to generate US $14.5 million for the local economy, supporting one of Latin America’s most important coffee origins. According to the USDA, the country will produce 5.5 million 60kg bags in 2023/24.
“For years, PRF attendees have asked us to host an event in Honduras,” Henry says. “In 2020, we organised a virtual forum focused on the country’s coffee market, so it’s an honour to host an in-person event in Honduras to celebrate our tenth anniversary.”
Over the last two decades, Honduras has emerged as one of the most prominent producers of coffee in Central America. Historically known for its commodity-grade arabica, the country has since established its position as an important producer of exceptional specialty coffee, including varieties like Lempira, Bourbon, and Catuai.
Over 120,000 coffee farms contribute a third of its agricultural GDP. Moreover, an estimated 95% of the country’s coffee is grown by smallholders, presenting a valuable opportunity for roasters to learn directly from these farmers.
“With a growing number of industry events to attend every year, PRF stands out as a leading platform for attendees to leave inspired by the people they interact with and the knowledge and insight they receive,” Henry says. “Hosting the event in a producing country and bringing together thousands of international coffee professionals is what makes PRF so special.”
Speaker applications are open
Every year, PRF invites leading experts and professionals in the global coffee industry to speak as part of the PRF Voices programme. Although the forum specifically targets producers and roasters, all actors and stakeholders are welcome to apply.
Speakers will be able to share their knowledge, experiences, and visions for the future of the coffee industry. They will be able to take part in TedTalk-style speeches, lectures, panels, and workshops.
Moreover, the event offers a platform for people to discuss some of the issues that matter to them the most, ensuring attendees receive as much value as possible from their speeches and lectures.
“Previous events have included speakers from all over the world, and we want this to be an even bigger focus in Honduras,” Henry says. “PRF thrives off bringing together global industry experts so that attendees can hear a diverse range of perspectives and learn about different markets.”
Over the past decade, speakers have included coffee professionals from 36 countries, such as the US, Australia, Colombia, Japan, El Salvador, Honduras, the UK, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, China, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Chile, Peru, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, Serbia, and more.
Who can apply to speak at PRF Honduras?
If you are an English or Spanish-speaking coffee professional in any capacity, you are eligible to apply to become a speaker at PRF Honduras.
Ideal candidates should have a strong background in their chosen topic, over five years of experience working in coffee, previous PRF participation, and proficient public speaking skills. Applicants should also be able to offer fresh new insight into upcoming trends and challenges that the industry could expect in 2025.
Lectures and speakers at previous events have included:
- It’s time to change the standards for how we market and sell coffee (Martin Mayorga – Mayorga Coffee, US)
- Exotic processing: Leveraging biochemistry to produce experimental coffees (Wilton Benitez – Varietales Finos SAS, Colombia)
- Green buyer trends (David Paparelli – M-Cultivo, UK)
- Is high-end specialty coffee still a growing trend? (Konstantinos Vallianos – Kafea Terra, Greece)
- Coffee market outlook for 2024 (Albert Scalla – StoneX, US)
- Addressing the North-South Divide in the Coffee Supply Chain (Sam Corra – ONA Coffee, Australia)
Speeches at PRF events also focus on the specific needs of the host country, with the aim of delivering value for key industry stakeholders – especially producers.
In line with this, speeches should be tailored to an audience of Latin American coffee professionals, including roasters, green coffee traders, baristas, and coffee competitors. As such, Honduras coffee professionals are specifically encouraged to apply. Speeches will also be simultaneously translated into English and Spanish.
It’s also important to note that PRF will record all speeches and post them on YouTube in the weeks following the event. Speakers will also be featured on the PRF website, social media channels, and newsletters.
Alongside a series of lectures and speeches, PRF Honduras will host workshops and cupping sessions. Applicants are welcome to apply to lead these sessions, too.
How can I apply?
If you would like to speak at PRF Honduras, please apply by 15 January 2025. The event will take place on 27 & 28 March 2025, so the PRF team will approve the final speaker line-up long before then.
To apply, please fill out the speaker application form in English here and in Spanish here. The PRF team will carefully review and consider each application.
If successful, you will hear from them shortly after submitting your application. All speakers will receive a full-access ticket to the event. However, please note that speakers are responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs.
What else is happening at PRF Honduras?
In addition to PRF Voices, panel discussions, and workshops, the event will also include cuppings led by some of Latin America’s best producers and exporters. Attendees will have the chance to taste some of the region’s finest coffees.
PRF has also become known for organising some of the coffee industry’s most innovative competitions, and Honduras will be no exception.
Championships at the event will include:
- The fourth Global Coffee Roasting Contest – which includes both a technical and a people’s choice winner
- The sixth Cold Brew Coffee Championship sponsored by Toddy. Competitors must prepare two cold brew-based beverages, including a designer drink
- A Brewing Championship which will test essential and high-level coffee brewing skills, with more details to be announced soon
- An all-new Cupping Championship to test industry professionals’ sensory analysis skills. The PRF team will also share more information in the coming weeks
- The second Cacao Masters Cup to showcase the deep connection between coffee and cacao
- PRF Honduras will also feature a Fine Cacao Zone for producers and roasters to taste specialty-grade cacao
Awards & scholarships
After its successful debut at PRF Guatemala, PRF Seed will return in 2025. This scheme recognises entrepreneurs in the coffee industry and empowers them by funding valuable community-focused initiatives. This edition of the programme will invite back previous Seed recipients to showcase and celebrate their achievements over the past year.
Finally, the event will also host the third edition of the Global Coffee Awards, which celebrate key innovators and leaders across the industry.
To celebrate its tenth anniversary, PRF will host a major event in San Pedro Sula, Honduras on 27 & 28 March 2025, showcasing its significant impact on the coffee industry. Over the past decade, PRF has facilitated connections among coffee professionals worldwide. Attendees can also expect opportunities to learn and engage in new ways.
International tickets are available here. You can also purchase Sourcing Trip Experience tickets at this link. The PRF team will announce a complete event schedule in the coming weeks.
You can also take a look at lectures from previous PRF events here.
Apply to be a PRF Guatemala speaker by filling out this form in English or in Spanish.
Photo credits: Producer & Roaster Forum
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